Tunneling system



May 10, 1938. s. M. MERCIER ET AL TUNNELING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 28, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l [/VVENTORS sTANLEY M. MERCIER A/ID H.I MYE R,

TUNNELING SYSTEM Filed D60. 28. 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v\/E/\ TORs: STANLEY M. MERGER AND HLMYER,

ATT'Y May 10, 1938. s. M. MERCIER ET AL 2,116,905

TUNNELING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 28, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s //Y l E/V TORS STANLEY M. MERCIER H.l MYER,

ATT'Y Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES TUNNELING SYSTEM Stanley M. Mercier, Columbus, Ohio, and H. L. Myer, Mason City, Wash, .assignors to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application December 28, .1935, Serial No. 56,578

. 5 Claims. (01. 1214 41) This invention relates to apparatus particularly adapted for digging tunnels and removing the excavated dirt.

An object of the invention is'to provide an im- 5 proved excavating and loading system for removing dirt in the digging of a tunnel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of train car loading conveyor adapted to be fed by a digging and loading ma- 10 chine, which will permit the said digging and loading machine to travel thereunder whereby it may be removed from a tunnel of restricted Width without requiring removal of the train car loading conveyor.

15 Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the tunneling system shown in a tunnel and comprising our invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the tunnel and apparatus of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4, placed end to end along line AA, comprise a side elevational view of the train car loading conveyor of our invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of a detail of the device of Figs. 3 and. 4 showing the pivotal mounting of the car loading conveyor on a gantry and the pivoted front or loading end thereof;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional View takenon the line 8-8 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

40 Fig. 9 is a piping diagram for the hydraulic piston motors.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, our invention comprises a system for digging: tunnels, the tunnel being indicated at I0. It oft- 451 times happens that a tunnel is desired to be dug which does not have sufiicient width to permit the laying of two tracks side by side over which train cars and a digging and. loading machine may travel. It is desirable, however, to provide for 5 the successive loading of a series of cars of a train from a digging and loading machine; yet to provide for the ready removal of the digging and loading machine whereby it maybe periodically oiled and greased or removed from the tunnel for 55 repair without requiring the removal of the loadingconveyor which leads the cars of the train. Our systemrand our novel loading conveyor provides for the'ready removal of the combined loadingand digging machine without requiring any removal of said loading conveyor from the tunnel.

Asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, as the tunnel operation' progresses, two pairsof tracks II and I2 are laid. The tracks II are adapted to support the cars I3 which haul away the dirt or other material excavated in forming the tunnel. For 10 digging the tunnel and for removing any dirt or other material dug or otherwise loosened by the tunneling operation adjacent the face of the tunnel, we provide a combined digging and loading machine I4 which may be of any well known type. Purely as illustrative of the type of machine which may be here employed, we may employ a device like that disclosed in the patent to E. C. Morgan, No. 1,663,917, dated March 27, 1928; Such a combined digging and loading machine will be employed to dig material from the tunnel face or to gather otherwise loosened material and to convey it rearwardly thereof.

In order to permit the loading of a large number of cars I3 we provide within the tunnel a combined loader and conveyor I5 which is of novel construction and comprises an important feature of our system as Well as a novel machine which alone comprises a feature of our invention. The specific structure of the combined loader and conveyor I5 will be described in detail hereinafter, but for the present it is suilicient to note that it comprises a main boom I6 and a pivotally connected loading section II. The pivotally connected loading section Il may be lowered whereby it will be in position to receive material discharged from the rear conveyor of the combined digging and loading machine I4, or it may be sufiiciently elevated, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to permit the said combined digging and loading machine I4 to pass freely thereunder.

As best illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the combined loader and conveyor I5 is mounted upon the tracks I2 which are positioned outside of the tracks II, and is supported upon appropriate .gantries I8 and I9 to permit free movement of both the cars I3 and the combined digging and loading machine I4 thereunder. It will thus be evident that the combined loader and conveyor I5 may be employed to load a plurality of cars I3 successively while being fed from the digging and loading machine I4, yet will readily permit of movement of the digging and loading machine I4 thereunder so that it can be removed from the tunnel for any desired purpose with out requiring the removal of the relatively large loader and conveyor I5 from said tunnel.

The detailed structure of the combined loader and conveyor I5 is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, and reference is made to those figures in connection with the following description of the structure which provides for the above noted capabilities of operation. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the main boom I6 comprises an elongated framework built up of the usual angles and side plates with appropriate reinforcing diagonal angle members and gusset plates. Within the boom I6 there is formed a trough 20 (Fig. 6) within which material is adapted to be guided. The front end of the boom I6 is supported upon a gantry I8 which comprises a pair of spaced upstanding frames 2|, 2|, best seen in Fig. 2, which are mounted upon wheels 22 adapted to ride upon the track rails I2. Extending transversely between the rails I2 we provide a bolster 23 formed by a pair of spaced channel members 24 (Fig. 5) and a top plate 25. These members may be rigidly attached as by welding or riveting.

In connecting the boom I6 to the gantry I8 it is desirable that both relative pivotal and relative lateral movement be provided therebetween. This is necessary in case the loader and conveyor I5 is to be used in a curved tunnel, for sometimes, due to the great length thereof, it will be necessary not only for the boom I6 to pivot with respect to the gantry I8 but for it to slide laterally with respect thereto to avoid its striking the walls of the tunnel. To provide for this relative pivotal movement and lateral movement a pin 26 is carried by the bolster 23. Resting upon the top plate 25 of said bolster 23 and forming a bearing plate for the boom I6, there is a bearing plate 21 attached to the side walls of said boom I6 as by welding. Appropriate channel member 28 may be provided to reinforce the bearing plate 21. Between the channel member 28 and the bearing plate 21 we may also provide a filler plate 29. An elongated transversely extending slot 3|] is provided in the bearing plate 21, filler plate 29, and channel member 28, through which the pin 26 extends whereby both pivotal and lateral movement of the boom I6, with respect to the gantry I8, is provided. It will be noted that the top of the pin 26 is retained in the groove 30' by a riveted head SI, and the bottom thereof is retained on the bolster 23 by a washer 32 held by a cotter pin and co-operating with an apertured plate 33. Positioned upon the head 3| of pin 26 is a shield 34 which prevents contact between the belt of the conveyor and said head 3|. Said shield 34 may be provided with an aperture 35 to permit ready removal of the pin 26. It may also be noted that the boom I6 is provided with angle members 36 which pass beneath the bolster Z3 and thus the bolster 23 is totally encased by elements of the boom I6.

Adjacent the rear end of the boom I6 there is provided the previously mentioned gantry I9 which has the same structure as the gantry I8 and is connected to the boom I6 in exactly the same manner. Detailed description of this gantry will therefore be unnecessary.

Pivotally attached to the forward end of the boom I6 is the loading section H, the pivotal connection being about a horizontal axis and being effected as illustrated in Fig. 8. As is here illustrated, the main boom I6 carries on each side wall a journal bearing 31 adapted to receive a journal bearing cup 38 carried by the side walls of the loading section I'I. Journaled within thecup 38 is a shaft 39 carrying a belt drum 40 adapted to guide and support a continuous conveyor belt 4| which travels throughout the combined loader and conveyor I5.

Within both the boom I6 and loading section I! there are provided spaced rollers 42 adapted to support the conveyor belt 4|. As best seen in Fig. 3 of 'the drawings, a head pulley 43 is provided adjacent the rear end of the boom I6 over which the belt 4| travels and discharges its material. Spaced rearwardly of the pulley 43 is a driving motor 44 which may be connected to said pulley 43 by any well known appropriate drive means, such as a drive chain and sprocket mechanism.

It will be evident that the material carried by the belt 4I will be discharged to the cars I3 at a position intermediate the motor 44 and the pulley 43. Return guide rollers 45 will be provided for guiding and supporting the lower run of the belt 4|.

As best seen in Fig. '7, the loading section I1 is provided with trough forming side plates 46 which retain material on the belt 4|. Adjacent the forward end of the loading section I? we provide a hopper 41 adapted to be fed with material from the combined digging and loading machine I4, illustrated in Fig. 1. This hopper is formed with side walls 48 and an end wall 49 all of which are split and hingedly connected as illustrated at 50 and 5|, respectively. This hinged formation of the hopper 41 provides for the elevation of the forward end of the loading section I! to within a relatively short distance of the top of the tunnel and provides increased clearance, permitting free travel of the digging and loading machine I4 thereunder. That is, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by swinging downward the top portion of the walls 48 and 49, increased elevation of the forward end of the loading section I1 is provided. When the loading section I! is in a lowered position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, in which it is adapted to be fed by the digging and loading machine I4, the side walls 48 and end wall 49 will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 to form a large hopper of sufficient size for satisfactory operation.

It will be evident that as material is discharged from the digging and loading machine I4 and falls into the hopper 41, it will drop with appreciable force on the belt 4|. In order to provide for the incident strain, the belt 4| is adapted to travel on another relatively short endless belt 52 which travels between the pulleys 53 and 54, seen in Fig. 4. The lower face of the upper run of belt 52 will slide on a metal plate 55 supported upon longitudinally extending planks 56 carried between transversely extending members 5! which are supported upon rubber cushion blocks 58 on the side frames of the loading section II. Supporting rollers 59 support the lower run of the two belts 4| and 52, and guide rollers 6|! keep them in proper position.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the forward end of the loading'section I1 is provided with shoes 6| adapted to rest upon the rails I2 to support said forward end of said loading section H. To provide for the raising and lowering of the loading section I! about its pivot point, We provide a pair of hydraulic cylinders 62, 62, one on each side of the boom I6, with which co-operate pistons 63, 63 adapted for movement by hydraulic pressure. As best seen in Fig. 9 of the drawings; pistons 63, 63 are always operated in unison and may be controlled by a valve 64 which controls the flow of hydraulic fluid from any desired source which, for example, may be located outside of the tunnel and may be connected to the pipe 65 as by a flexible rubber hose. .The valve 64 may, of course, be operated to move the pistons in either direction and to lock themin any position to which they are moved.

Attached to the pistons 63 are pistonrods 66, 66 to the free ends of which are attached flexible cables, one of which is seenat 6'! in Figs. 1 and 4. The cables 61 are reeved over pulleys 68 carried on the boom I6 and attachedto the loading sec; tion I'I. Movementof the pistons 63, 63 will thus raise or lower the loading section I! in a pivotal movement about its connection to the boom I6, in an obvious manner.

In the operation of the system to perform digging of the tunnel and removal of the material, the combined digging and loading machine I4 may be employed to dig on the face of the tunnel or to gather material otherwise loosened at said face. This material will be conveyed rearwardly by said digging and loading machine I4 and discharged into the hopper 41 of the combined loader and conveyor I5, the hopper 41 being, of course, in the lowered position as illustrated in Fig. 4. The conveyor belt 4| will, of course, be driven continuously by the motor 44 and will convey any material received by the hopper 41 and discharge it into one of the cars I3. When the operation starts the greatest possible number of cars I3 will be positioned beneath the boom I 6 and as the cars become loaded, successive empty cars will be hauled into position to be filled by the loader and conveyor I5 until all of the cars I3 are filled. Thereafter, cars I3 will be hauled from the tunnel and dumped, after which they will be returned for refilling.

When it is desired to shut down the operation of the system and to grease, inspect or repair the digging and loading machine I4, the valve 64 will be operated to elevate the loading section II. This will permit said digging and loading machine I4 to travel rearwardly on its tracks II beneath said loader and conveyor I5. In elevating the loading section I! it may be necessary to drop the upper pivoted portions of the walls 48 and 49 thereof in order to provide adequate clearance for said digging and loading machine I4. If the tunnel has appreciable height, this may not be necessary.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a system in which the combined digging and loading machine I 4 may be readily removed from the tunnel for any desired purpose without requiring removal therefrom of the exceedingly large loader and conveyor I5 which has no self-propelling operating means. This is also accomplished without requiring two pair of side by side parallel tracks which oft-times can not be accommodated by the size of the tunnel under construction.

The novel construction of the combined loader and conveyor I5 not only permits of ready removal of the digging and loading machine I4, but also provides for its use in a curved tunnel by virtue of the pivotal and lateral adjustment provided between the boom I6 and the gantries I8 and I9 thereof.

It should be particularly noted that the hopper 4'! is of extremely large capacity. This is accomplished by the pivoted walls 48, 49 which also provide satisfactory clearance when elevated. Due to this large capacity of the hopper, it is possible to operate the digger and loader I4 substantially continuously while discharging material to fill the cars I3 intermittently. That is, the dug material may accumulate in the hopper 4'! while, the cars I3 are being unloaded and the conveyor belt 4| idle, thus increasing the total capacity of the system toa maximum, as determined solely by the capacity of the digger and loader I4.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and. we therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a tunneling loader, the combination with spaced gantries, of an elongated boom mounted on said gantries, a material receiving section pivoted to said boom on a horizontal axis, belt means on said boom and receiving section adapted to convey material, and means for raising and lowering said material receiving section, said gantries co-operating with said material receiving section to provide clearance beneath said conveyor to allow machinery to pass thereunder when said receiving section is raised, said receiving section being adapted to receive material when in a lowered position, said receiving section having a material receiving hopper at its free end, the walls of which are hinged intermediate their tops and bottoms whereby the maximum clearance provided by said receiving section may be increased.

2. In a tunneling loader, the combination with spaced gantries, of an elongated boom mounted on said gantries, a material receiving section pivoted to said boom on a horizontal axis, belt means on said boom and receiving section adapted to convey material, and means for raising and lowering said material receiving section, said gantries co-operating with said material receiving section to provide clearance beneath said conveyor to allow machinery to pass thereunder when said receiving section is raised, said receiving section being adapted to receive material when in a lowered position, said receiving section having a material receiving hopper at its free end, the walls of which are hinged whereby the maximum clearance provided by said receiving section may be increased.

3. In a tunneling loader, the combination with spaced end supporting means, of an elongated boom mounted on said spaced supporting means, a material receiving section pivoted to said boom on a horizontal axis, belt means on said boom and receiving section adapted to convey material, and means for raising and lowering said material receiving section, said spaced supporting means cooperating with said material receiving section to provide clearance beneath said conveyor to allow machinery to pass thereunder when said receiving section is raised, said receiving section being adapted to receive material when in a lowered position, said receiving section having a material receiving hopper at its free end the walls of which are hinged whereby the maximum clearance provided by said receiving section may be increased.

4. In a tunneling loader, the combination with an elongated conveyor including an endless belt and having a pivoted end adapted to be raised and lowered, of a material receiving hopper on said lowered end adapted to be filled with material, cushion belt supporting means below said hopper, supporting means for said conveyor adapted to support it in an elevated position to permit a train of cars to pass thereunder for loading thereby, said supporting means including gantries at each end thereof having track riding wheels on opposite sides of said conveyor providing for ready movement of said conveyor longitudinally, means mounting said conveyor on said gantries to permit both pivotal lateral movement of said conveyor relative thereto, and motor operated means for raising and lowering said hopper by swinging said pivoted end of said conveyor to provide clearance for machinery to pass under the entire length of the conveyor.

5. In a tunneling loader, the combination with an elongated conveyor including an endless belt and having a pivoted end adapted to be raised and lowered, of a material receiving hopper on said lowered end adapted to be filled with material, cushion belt supporting means below said hopper, supporting means for said conveyor adapted to support it in an elevated position to permit a train of cars to pass thereunder for loading thereby, said supporting means including gantries at each end thereof having track riding wheels on opposite sides of said conveyor providing for ready movement of said conveyor longitudinally, and motor operated means for raising and lowering said hopper by swinging said pivoted end of said conveyor to provide clearance for machinery to pass under the entire length of the conveyor.

STANLEY M. MERCIER.

H. L. MYER. 

